Get the most out of your house


Can you increase your home's value?

Fast Sale, 8 tips to get your home sold quickly

Time and time again we find some sellers don't know how to stage a home for sale. Months later, their home still hasn't sold, and when they finally take the necessary steps to prepare the home for sale, the optimum "first 30 days" have gone. Make sure you take these steps to increase your chances for a quick and profitable sale.

Inspect Condition Carefully

  • Price the home realistically. Putting in a "cushion" only tells buyers you're not realistic about the value of your home.
  • Get the optimal exposure by using a proven marketing plan created by real estate professionals.
  • Paint the inside and out where needed, including the garage and outbuildings. Don't forget repairing and restaining the deck and fence.
  • Keep the lawn in tip-top shape (think about your visit to a new home development, is their grass ever overgrown?). Trim back bushes and trees.
  • Seal gutters and clean down spouts.
  • Clean all windows (inside and out) including screens and storm windows.
  • Fix all broken items, including leaky faucets, squeaky hinges, loose door knobs and cabinets.
  • Clear out the junk (and that means out of the closets, too.) Three to six months of storage space rent will pay off quickly, plus make moving much easier.

Not All Expenses Are Tax Deductible
Keep in mind the Internal Revenue Service does not allow deduction of all moving expenses.

Here's a list of expenses from IRS Publication 521:

  • Pre-move house hunting expenses
  • Temporary living expenses
  • Meal expenses
  • Expenses of buying or selling a home
  • Security deposits (including any given up due to the move)
  • Home improvements to help sell your home
  • Loss on the sale of your home
  • Mortgage penalties
  • Any part of the purchase price of your new home
  • Real estate taxes

No Double Deductions
You cannot take a moving expense deduction and a business expense deduction for the same expense. You must decide if your expenses are deductible as a moving expense or as a business expense.